Herald-Standard All-Area Baseball Team
Belle Vernon’s Bergman selected as Player of the Year
Belle Vernon coach Tyler Andrisko valued Connor Bergman for his ability, but what made the senior third baseman stand out was the type of person he was.
Bergman had a batting average of .500, on-base percentage of .534 and on-base-plus-slugging percentage of 1.310 in helping the Leopards to a record of 14-5, a second-place finish in Section 2-4A and a berth in the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.
He hit two home runs and drove in a WPIAL-leading 34 runs. Bergman added 10 doubles and scored 22 runs while playing solid defensively at the hot corner.
“What makes Connor special is that his character matches his ability,” Andrisko said. “He’s humble, coachable and always puts the team first. I’m incredibly proud of the player and young man he’s become.”
Bergman’s body of work has earned him the title as the Player of the Year on the Herald-Standard’s All-Area Baseball Team.
Bergman, who was named to the all-state team, had originally committed to Pitt-Greensburg to continue his academic and baseball careers, but as his production increased, other schools began to court him, which led to West Liberty’s inquiry.
“After I started doing well my senior year, I began to receive attention from D-II schools,” Bergman said. “I switched my commitment in early May after I was contacted by West Liberty. I am excited for the challenge of playing at the next level. I know it is not going to be easy and will take a ton of work, but I am ready for it. I am currently training at this moment.”
Bergman has played baseball his entire life, and started lifting weights in middle school. He understands that the speed of the game is different in college, but he has improved each day with hard work.
“It’s cliche but I have been taking it one day at a time,” Bergman said. “I have also stayed positive throughout it all.”
Andrisko was pleased with Bergman’s leadership qualities, as he was Belle Vernon’s captain.
“As our captain, Connor led by example every single day with his work ethic, consistency and the way he treated his teammates,” Andrisko said. “He’s the type of player every coach hopes to have. He made everyone around him better, was a tremendous leader and earned the respect of everyone in our dugout.”
Andrisko is joined on the Herald-Standard All-Area team by the Leopards’ Chace Petrosky (junior/CF); Zach Plymire (junior/SS/P); Nate Kostelnik (senior DH) and Ian Porter (senior pitcher).
Carmichaels’ Dickie Krause is the coach of the year after leading the young Mikes to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class A playoffs.
FIRST TEAM
Belle Vernon’s Connor Bergman and Chace Petrosky; California’s Weston Monticelli and Kaden Weston; Frazier’s Brant Alekson; Jefferson-Morgan’s John Woodward; Laurel Highlands’ Noah Lion; Mount Pleasant’s Ian Shipley and Waynesburg Central’s CJ Corwin.
SECOND TEAM
Belle Vernon’s Zach Plymire; Brownsville’s Jeremiah McDonald; California’s Logan Hartley; Carmichaels’ Scottie Maskil; Jefferson-Morgan’s Brayden Ellsworth, Deakyn DeHoet and Jaymison Robinson; Mount Pleasant’s Dane Firmstone and Santino Marne; West Greene’s Darren Knight.
HONORABLE MENTION
Albert Gallatin’s Kaiden Brady, Kayden Perez, Clay Smith, Kanyon Sutton and Evan Weakland; Brownsville’s Jonah Dillinger, Elijah Patterson, Nash Petroff and Ben Vojacek; Connellsville’s Geno Farrell, Gradin Hodge, Linkon Keller, Jackson Lee, Caden Matthews and Jayden Mickens; Frazier’s Noah Bachinski, Eli Cernuska, Chase Fulmer, Tyler Morrison and Nick Porter; Geibel Catholic’s John Hess, Zane Hixson, Eahn Stevenson and Kade Yoders; Laurel Highlands’ Nick Crouch, Jack Johns, Aiden Milsom and Sevi Vecchiolla; Mapletown’s Carson Vanata; Uniontown’s Connor Hebda, Brayden Hinzy, Shane Kelly, Elim Martin and Chandler Myers.